IPCAP Letter to PRB re College Grads for Board Exam

This afternoon, I went to the PRC to submit the IPCAP Letter to the Professional Regulatory Board of Guidance & Counseling in relation to the observations gathered regarding allowing to take the 1st Board Exam in Guidance and Counseling only college graduates in Guidance & Counseling & allied courses with the 18 units for the exam, while not specifying what the law (RA 9258) and its RR may have been always been emphasized to us: that one must have an MA in GC. I was able to talk with Atty. Almelor at PRC by phone yesterday morning to inform him about our forthcoming letter. He said that NO COLLEGE GRADUATE IN GUIDANCE & COUNSELING and ALLIED DISCIPLINE WITH THE 18 UNITS WAS ALLOWED TO TAKE THE BOARD. That's rather consoling, but what if there were? That's for the PRB and PRC to face. We have done our part. Here thus is the letter:

Integrated Professional Counselors
Association of the Philippines (IPCAP), Inc.
Christ the King Seminary
# 1101 E. Rodriguez Sr. Blvd.,
1112 Quezon City


August 12, 2008

Dr. Lily Rosqueta-Rosales
Professional Regulatory Board
Of Guidance & Counseling
Professional Regulation Commission
P. Paredes St., Manila

Dear Dr. Rosales,

Greetings!

The undersigned Guidance Counselors during our 2nd Integrated Professional Counselors Association of the Philippines (IPCAP), Inc. meeting last Aug. 09, 2008 have deliberated on the recent developments in the Guidance Counseling Profession in the Philippines. We would thus want to register our observations and thereby request clarification on the matter, particularly as regards the upcoming 1st Licensure Examinations in Guidance and Counseling.

As early as June 22, 2008, the Manila Bulletin has published on page 3(?; please see Attachment B) the 1st licensure examinations in Guidance and Counseling. On July 25, 2008, the Professional Regulation Commission has uploaded on its News area the same news material (please see Attachment A). The Application Division of the PRC has likewise sent to all its regional offices and everyone inquiring about the requirements for the said examinations (please see Attachment C). A look at these materials indicates a disparity in the requirements to take the Board Exams in Guidance and Counseling vis-à-vis the stipulations of the law (Republic Act No. 9258) and its implementing Rules and Regulations. The PRC materials (Attachments) show that college graduates in Guidance and Counseling and allied disciplines who have taken the subjects specified in the law (R.A. 9258) and in its Rules and Regulations are allowed to take the Examinations. In many a forum on the profession, we have always been told that a masters degree is basic a requirement to take the licensure exams. The law and the implementing Rules and Regulations are quite clear about it, and allow us to quote them here:

R.A. No. 9258 Article III Section 13 Qualifications for Examination. – In order to qualify for the examination, an applicant must, at the time of filing the application be:
(a) a citizen of the Republic…
(b) has not been convicted…
(c) holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling or in other allied disciplines and a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from an institution in the Philippines or abroad recognized and accredited by the CHED.

R.R. of R.A. No 9258 Rule III Section 13 Qualifications of Applicants. – To qualify for the examination, an applicant at the time of the filing of the application must:
a. Be a citizen of the Philippines…
b. Not have been convicted…
c. Be a graduate of a baccalaureate in guidance and counseling or in other allied discipline/degree from an accredited college or university with subject units covering those in Sec. 15 Rule III of this RR and a holder of an MA, MAEd, MAT, or MS in guidance and counseling the curriculum of which covers the core subjects in guidance and counseling on the masteral level, or those in Sec. 15, Rule III of this RR; or a holder of the PhD or Ed.D in guidance and counseling, the curriculum of which covers the core subjects in guidance and counseling on the doctoral level, or those in Sec 15, Rule III of this RR.

Please note that the above portion of the RR of R.A. No. 9258 even specifies, through an italicized and bold word “and” to specify the masters level as basic to the qualification requirements to take the licensure exams. We have yet to see the congressional proceedings of R.A. No. 9258, but practicing guidance counselors have remembered that the masters level is a sine qua non that distinguishes the Guidance and Counseling profession from the many professions in the Philippines.

We likewise have received similar observations from fellow Counselors in the field who would also like to register their inquiry. The fact that the announcements came only in June 2008 surprised many about the “lowered” requirement, i.e., a baccalaureate in Guidance and Counseling or in allied disciplines (e.g., Psychology) with 18 units specified in the R.R. sufficing to take the licensure exams. Have the R.R. of R.A. No. 9258 and the R.A. No. 9258 been thus amended by the Board and the PRC? We know that the amendment of R.A. No. 9258 properly belongs to those we have elected to Congress.

We hope that this letter is given due consideration. We are aware of the fact that the members of the Professional Regulatory Board of Guidance and Counseling are busy for the upcoming exams. We therefore strongly urge you to follow the original intent of the law and not whittle down the qualifications. Otherwise, it could clearly be a violation of the law? We would be grateful to hear from you soonest.

Thank you for your kind consideration and we remain sincerely yours collegially


Cc: Professional Regulatory Board of Guidance Counseling
Professional Regulation Commission (Atty. Almelor)
IPCAP/PGCA/PACERS/PACC/GCP/PAPSHP-PNU/CDAP/FPCAP/RGS Community

Dr. Rosa Ma. Llanes, RGC
IPCAP President

Fr. Bernardo R. Collera, SVD
IPCAP Secretary/PACERS Life Member

Mr. Cesar S. Cong, MA, RGC
IPCAP Treasurer/PACC President

Dr. Alda Perlita S. Polestico
IPCAP Auditor/PGCA Board

Mr. James Tan, MA
FPCAP President

Dr. Imelda Virginia G. Villar
PGCA President

Mrs. Consolacion J. Concepcion, MA RGC
CDAP President

Dr. Elvira Irene G. Ramos, RGC
CDAP

Dr. Conchita Salonga
PGCA Board Member

Dr. Carmelina S. Barrerra, RGC
PAPSHP-PNU

Jocelyn N. Laverinto, MA RGC
PACC

Letty D. Dela Paz, RGC
CDAP

Sr. Florence Bautista, RGS


Those who signed included Mr. Cong (PACC President), Mr. James Tan (FPCAP President), Mrs. Chit Concepcion (CDAP President), myself, and for Dr. Llanes (IPCAP President) who called to let me sign in her behalf. Those who couldn't affix their signature nevertheless agreed that we forward a letter to the PRB with their names in there. There were 13 GC's who were present at the meeting. It's a lesson learned nevertheless.

Thus far the letter. The aforesaid attachments included in our letter were the two internet materials (my news blog last June 22, and the PRC website News dated July 25) and the list of qualification requirement every PRC Regional Office was furnished a copy through its Application Division.

The law (RA 9258 Article V) and its RR (Rule V) have in theirPenalty Clause (Section 33)the following:

"Any person who violates any provision of this Act and the rules and regulations issued by the Board and the Commission or commits fraud in the acquisition of Certificate of Registration or special permit, shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than eight (8) years, or a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or both in the discretion of the court."